Heat-resistant electric heater

ABSTRACT

An electric heater comprises a main body, a panel, a cross flow fan, a motor and a heating element. The main body is made by aluminum extrusion and has a bottom board and a front board. The bottom board and the front board define an air outlet therebetween. The panel is disposed on the main body and is formed with a plurality of air inlets. The cross flow fan is rotatably disposed in the main body. The motor is disposed on the main body and connected to the cross flow fan. The heating element is disposed in the main body. By this configuration, the main body is resistant to high temperature, the temperature of the heating element is not as limited, providing a preferred heating effect, structural strength and is less easily damaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an electric heater; in particular, to an electric heater for heating rooms.

2. Description of Related Art

People in temperate or cold regions often use electric heaters during the winter to keep themselves warm. Electric heaters have become necessary devices in households and market offers a wide assortment of electric heaters including quartz tube heaters, halogen heaters, carbon light heaters, fan heaters (forced convection heaters), ceramic heaters (storage heaters), etc.

However, the main bodies of the conventional heaters are mostly made of plastic and not resistant to high temperature. The vulnerability of the heater main body to heat limits the temperature of the heating element, which in turn limits the heating effect of the heater. Moreover, plastic material has lower strength and is more easily damaged.

Hence, the present inventor believes the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome, and through devoted research combined with application of theory, finally proposes the present disclosure which has a reasonable design and effectively improves upon the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present disclosure is to provide an electric heater which has a main body that is resistant to high temperature and a heating element whose heating temperature is not limited, provides a preferred heating effect, and has a preferred strength and is less easily damaged.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present disclosure provides an electric heater comprising: a main body made by aluminum extrusion and having a lower board and a front board disposed at the front of the lower board, wherein the lower board and the front board define an air outlet therebetween; a panel disposed on the main body and formed with a plurality of air inlets; a cross flow fan rotatably disposed in the main body; a motor disposed on the main body and connected to the cross flow fan; and a heating element disposed in the main body.

Preferably, the exterior of the bottom board is formed with a sliding rail and an indentation. Additionally included is a suspension board having a sliding groove. The sliding rail of the bottom board slidably engages with the sliding groove of the suspension board.

Preferably, the air outlet of the main body has a protective mesh formed with a plurality of openings.

Preferably, the protective mesh is coupled to the main body.

Preferably, the panel is coupled to the main body.

The present disclosure has the following advantages. The main body of the present disclosure is made by aluminum extrusion, so as to lessen the restriction on the temperature of the heating element, thereby providing more effective heating. The electric heater of the present disclosure is modular and be assembled according to need into electric devices of varying lengths. The main body is made by aluminum extrusion, has preferable strength, is not easily damaged, light weight and convenient to transport. The present disclosure uses cross flow fan for driving air flow, which reduces noises.

Additionally, the protective mesh of the present disclosure can be coupled to the main body, and the bottom board can also be coupled to the main body, avoiding the usage of screws and facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the heater.

In order to further the understanding regarding the present disclosure, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of an electric heater according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an assembled electric heater according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembled electric heater according to the present disclosure from another perspective;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an electric heater according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an electric heater according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective exploded view of an electric heater according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an assembled electric heater according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the present disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the present disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the present disclosure provides an electric heater including a main body 1, a panel 2, a cross flow fan 3, a motor 4 and a heating element 5. The length of the main body 1 is not limited and can be altered according to the length and quantity of the cross flow fan 3. For example, the main body 1 can have the proper length to adapt to housing one, two or more cross flow fans 3. In the present embodiment one cross flow fan 3 is used.

The main body 1 is made by aluminum extrusion and can have different lengths. The main body 1 can have a bottom board 11 and a front board 12. The bottom board 11 and the front board 12 are strip shaped. The bottom board 11 and the front board 12 can be two independently formed structures or an integrally formed structure. The front board 12 is disposed at the front of the bottom board 11. The bottom board 11 and the front board 12 form an air outlet 13 therebetween.

The two ends of the main body 1 can each have a side board 6 fixed thereat by screws or engagement. The two ends of the main body 1 are namely the two ends of the bottom board 11 and the front board 12. Each one of the two side boards 6 can be installed with a side cover 7 fixed to the exterior of the two side boards 6 by screws or engagement. The side boards 6 are preferably made of metal but are not limited thereto. The side covers 7 are made of plastic.

The exterior of the bottom board 11 can be formed with a sliding rail 14. A suspension board 8 is included and can be installed on appropriate positions of a building by screws or other methods. The suspension board 8 is formed with a sliding groove 81 corresponding to the sliding rail 14. The sliding rail 14 and the sliding groove 81 can slidably engage each other, such that the electric heater can be suspended on the building through the suspension board 8. However, the method of fixture and suspension of the electric heater of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Additionally, the exterior of the bottom board 11 can be formed with an indentation 17 for accommodating wiring, etc.

The interior of the main body 1 can further have two upright boards 9, fixed thereat by screws, rivets or nails. Namely, the two upright boards 9 can be fixedly disposed on the main body 1, and the method of fixture is not limited. The quantity of the upright boards 9 can be adapted to the quantity of the cross flow fans 3. The upright boards 9 can support the cross flow fans 3.

A protective mesh 20 can be disposed at the air outlet 13 of the main body 1. The structure of the protective mesh 20 is not limited, and can be for example grid-shaped or cell-shaped. The protective mesh 20 covers the air outlet 13, preventing entry of foreign particles and increasing safety during operation. The protective mesh 20 can be made by aluminum punching. Namely, the protective mesh 20 is formed with a plurality of openings 201, which can be circular, hexagonal, rectangular, etc. and is not limited thereto. The distance between the openings 201 can be small, e.g. smaller than 1 mm, such that the air resistance of the outflowing air is reduced. The protective mesh 20 is preferably fixed to the main body 1 by engagement, but is not limited thereto. Two edges of the protective mesh 20 can each be formed with a first engagement portion 202, and two edges of the air outlet 13 can each be formed with a second engagement portion 15. Namely, the bottom board 11 and the front board 12 can each be formed with a second engagement portion 15. The first engagement portions 202 can be male or female, and the second engagement portions 15 can be female or male. The first engagement portions 202 and the second engagement portions 15 respectively engage each other such that the protective mesh 20 is engaged with the main body 1 to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

The panel 2 is disposed on the main body 1 and can be made of plastic but is not limited thereto. The structure of the panel 2 is also not limited, and can be grid-shaped or cell-shaped for preventing entry of foreign particles and increasing safety during operation. In the present embodiment, the panel 2 is grid-shaped. The panel 2 is formed with a plurality of elongated air inlet 21. The panel 2 is preferably fixed to the main body 1 by engagement but is not limited thereto. Two edges of the panel 2 are each formed with a third engagement portion 22, and the main body 1 is formed with two fourth engagement portions 16. Namely, the bottom board 11 and the front board 12 are each formed with a fourth engagement portion 16. The third engagement portion 22 can be male or female, and the fourth engagement portions 16 can be female or male. The third engagement portions 22 and the fourth engagement portions 16 respectively engage each other such that the panel 2 is engaged with the main body 1 to facilitate assembly and disassembly. The inner side of the panel 2 can further have a filter 23 for improve air filtering.

The cross flow flan 3 can be made of plastic and aluminum but is not limited thereto. The cross flow fan 3 has a plurality of arc-shaped blades 31. The blades 31 are disposed at intervals and arranged into a spherical column. The quantity of cross flow fans 3 can be one, two or more but only one cross flow fan 3 is used in the present embodiment. The cross flow fan 3 is disposed in the main body 1. If a plurality of cross flow fans 3 is employed, the cross flow fans 3 can be connected therebetween. The cross flow fan 3 can be pivotally connected to the upright boards 9. Namely, the cross flow fan 3 can use its axis (not shown in the figures) in configuration with a pivoting element (not shown in the figures) to pivotally connect to the upright boards 9 such that the cross flow fan 3 can rotate within the main body 1. However, the pivoting of a cross flow fan 3 inside a main body 1 is a conventional method and is therefore not limited.

The motor 4 is disposed on the main body 1 and connected to the cross flow fan 3. The quantity of the motor 4 can be one, two or more, but only one motor 4 is used in the present embodiment. The motor 4 is disposed in the main body 1 and is fixed thereat by screws or other methods. For example, the motor 4 can be fixed to an upright board 9 in the main body 1. The motor 4 is connected to the cross flow fan 3 such that the cross flow fan 3 can be driven by the motor 4. The motor 4 can be a brushless DC motor or a stepper motor, being light weight and small in volume. However, the type of motor 4 is not limited thereto and can be other types. The motor 4 can be electrically connected to the appropriate controlling circuit 30.

The type of heating element 5 is not limited, and can be ceramic heater, etc. The heating element 5 is disposed in the main body 1, preferably at the air outlet 13. Namely, the heating element 5 can be positioned at the inner side of the air outlet 13 such that heat is quickly transmitted outward without overheating the interior of the main body 1. The heating element 5 can be fixed in the main body 1 by two heater fixture frames 51, and is electrically connected to the control circuit 30. Preferably, the heater fixture frames 51 are made of heat resistant engineering plastic for resisting high temperature and reducing heat transfer to the main body 1. A remote control board 40 can be disposed in the main body 1. The remote control board 40 is electrically connected to the control circuit 30 and the electric heater can be operated via remote control.

The electric heater of the present disclosure can be installed on ceilings, walls, etc. During operation, the motor 4 drives the cross flow fan 3 to rotate, so as to draw in air through the air inlet 21, heat the air through the heating element 5, and output the air via the air outlet 13 for heating the room. Additionally, the electric heater of the present disclosure can be equipped with a temperature sensor. When the temperature sensor senses that the temperature is higher than preferred, the rotation of the motor 4 can be slowed and the temperature of the heating element 5 lowered.

The main body 1 (including the bottom board 11 and the front board 12) of the present disclosure are made by aluminum extrusion, and therefore is resistant to high temperature. The temperature of the heating element 5 is not as limited and a preferred heating effect is provided.

Moreover, the modular design of the electric heater of the present disclosure can adapt to different needs and take on different lengths. The main body 1 is made by aluminum extrusion, has enough strength, is not easily damaged, light weight and easy to transport. The cross flow fan 3 drives airflow and reduces noise generation.

Additionally, the protective mesh 20 of the present disclosure can be engaged to the main body 1, and the panel 2 can be engaged to the main body 1. No screws are necessary which facilitates assembly and disassembly.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the main body 1 is fixed to a stand 50 by screws 501 or other methods in the present embodiment, such that the electric heater of the present disclosure can be disposed on tables or floors.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure; however, the characteristics of the present disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure delineated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric heater, comprising: a main body made by aluminum extrusion, having a bottom board and a front board disposed in front of the bottom board, wherein the bottom board and the front board define an air outlet therebetween; a panel disposed on the main body and having a plurality of air inlets; a cross flow flan rotatably disposed in the main body; a motor disposed on the main body and connected to the cross flow fan; and a heating element disposed in the main body and positioned proximal to the air outlet.
 2. The electric heater according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension board, wherein the suspension board has a sliding groove, the external side of the bottom board is formed with a sliding rail and an indentation, and the sliding rail is slidably coupled to the sliding groove.
 3. The electric heater according to claim 1, wherein the two ends of the main body each have a side board, and two side covers are respectively assembled on the two side boards.
 4. The electric heater according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet of the main body has a protective mesh arranged thereon, and the protective mesh has a plurality of openings arranged thereon.
 5. The electric heater according to claim 4, wherein the protective mesh engages the main body.
 6. The electric heater according to claim 5, wherein the two edges of the protective mesh each have a first engagement portion, the bottom board and the front board are each formed with a second engagement portion, and the first engagement portions respectively engage the second engagement portions.
 7. The electric heater according to claim 1, wherein the panel engages the main body.
 8. The electric heater according to claim 7, wherein the two edges of the panel each have a third engagement portion, the bottom board and the front board each have a fourth engagement portion, and the third engagement portions respectively engage the fourth engagement portions.
 9. The electric heater according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is a ceramic heater.
 10. The electric heater according to claim 1, where in the main body is fixed to a stand. 